Prevalence of HIV infection and risk behaviours among Montreal street youth

We aim to estimate HIV prevalence and associated risk factors among street youth in Montreal, Canada. We conducted a one-year cross-sectional anonymou s study in 1995. We recruited youth aged 13-25 years meeting specific crite ria for itinerancy through the 20 major Montreal street youth agencies. Par ticipation included a structured interview and provision of an oral specime n for HIV testing. Among the 909 subjects studied, 99.3% had been sexually active, 25.9% had exchanged sex for money, gifts, drugs, a place to sleep, or other things; 31.8% reported anal sex; and 36.4% reported having ever in jected drugs. Overall, HIV prevalence was 1.9% (1.1% in girls and 2.2% in b oys). Multivariate logistic regression showed that being over 20 years of a ge (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 7.09), having injected drugs (AOR 4.48), havi ng engaged in prostitution (AOR 3.32), and being born outside Canada (AOR 4 .41) were all independently associated with HIV infection.